Stacy Shumway Manwaring

Dr. Stacy Shumway Manwaring is an Associate Professor and Director of the Early Childhood Communication Lab in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at the University of Utah's College of Health. With over 20 years of experience as a speech-language pathologist and clinical researcher, Dr. Manwaring specializes in early identification and intervention for children with communication delays, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder.

Dr. Manwaring's educational background includes:

• PhD from Florida State University (2006)
• MS from Idaho State University (2000)
• BS from Brigham Young University (1998)

Dr. Manwaring's research focuses on understanding prelinguistic social communication and language development in young children, especially toddlers with early language and developmental delays. Her work investigates the relationship between gesture use, social communication, and language development in both typically developing children and those with communication delays. A significant portion of her research examines how modifying child and caregiver gesture use might promote language development. Her studies often employ advanced neuroimaging techniques like functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine brain activity in toddlers during communication tasks.

Dr. Manwaring's extensive publication record shows a consistent focus on early autism identification, language development trajectories, and intervention strategies for children with communication delays. Her work bridges clinical practice and research, with many publications appearing in top journals in speech-language pathology, developmental psychology, and autism research. She has made significant contributions to the development and validation of screening tools for early autism detection.

Dr. Manwaring has received several prestigious awards recognizing her contributions to the field:

• Professional Achievement Award (2020) from College of Rehabilitation & Communication Sciences, Idaho State University
• Professor of Excellence in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (2019)
• Honored Mentor to the Recipient of the College of Health Outstanding Undergraduate Student Researcher (2016)
• Young Investigator Award (2012) from Autism Speaks Toddler Treatment Network

As an educator, Dr. Manwaring mentors both undergraduate and graduate students through her role as Director of the Early Childhood Communication Lab. She teaches courses at both levels, including specialized courses on autism spectrum disorders and language learning disabilities. Her mentoring philosophy emphasizes hands-on research experience and clinical application of theoretical knowledge. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, her extensive publication record suggests successful grant funding to support her research program.

Dr. Manwaring directs the Early Childhood Communication Lab at the University of Utah, where her team conducts research on early communication development, autism screening, and intervention strategies for young children with language delays. The lab appears to collaborate with multiple institutions and has contributed significantly to the understanding of early markers of communication disorders.